Sharp rumored to be kicking off production of next iPhone's display in June

It was almost exactly one year ago that rumors beganclaiming that Apple had placed orders with Sharp, LG and Japan Display for 4-inch displays that would eventually be used in the iPhone 5. Now a similar report has surfaced about the 2013 edition of Apple's smartphone. According to Japanese newspaper Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Apple has placed orders with Sharp, LG and Japan Display for screens that will be used in its next iPhone. Sharp is expected to begin mass production of the panels in June. Along with its claims about the displays, today's report says that the new iPhone will feature a design that's similar to the iPhone 5.

While still very much a rumor, today's report lines up with others that we've heard about the next iPhone. A report from early April suggested that mass production of the upcoming handset could begin in the second quarter, which June is a part of, while others have said that the new iPhone will look similar to the iPhone 5. One feature that is expected to be upgraded is the next iPhone's camera, which could receive both a bump in its megapixel count as well as a larger flash. Apple did something similar with the iPhone 4S, which looked just like the iPhone 4 but packed an 8-megapixel camera, which was an upgrade over the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel shooter.

Apple hasn't officially revealed anything about its next iPhone, which should come as a surprise to exactly no one. However, CEO Tim Cook recently teased that his company's got some "really great stuff coming in the fall and across 2014," suggesting that the new iPhone could arrive in the fall like the two models before it. The good news for Apple fans is that we don't have to wait that long to get a taste of what 2013 has in store for iOS, as the Cupertino firm will be previewing iOS 7 at WWDC 2013 in June.

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